Why "Streetball" is Historically Underrated

I'm assuming we all know who Allen Iverson is.  However, I suggest that Allen Iverson would not have been the NBA superstar that he was if streetball never existed.  You see, the crossover's origin has been argued for decades.  Oscar Robertson said that the first person he saw perform the crossover dribble was Pee Wee Kirkland, who averaged 41 points per game in high school, was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, turned down a professional career to sell drugs, and once scored 465 points over 8 games (58.1 ppg) in a prison league.  Players with real talent have graced the outdoor courts.  Some of the greatest ball-handlers ever reached that level from playing outdoors, where the wind wouldn't let you shoot, and the defense would force you to drive to the rim.  Players such as God Shammgod, Kenny Anderson, Rafer Alston, and Jason Williams (look up each highlight real in your free time) all got their first taste of basketball on an outdoor court.  The game was revolutionized by players who saw creative ways to dribble, pass, and score.
NBA greats have all taken time in their off-season to play in some sort of streetball league.  Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Connie Hawkins, and most recently Kevin Durant have all played in leagues at Rucker Park.  Not just the greats have taken to the concrete courts.  Just use the last NBA lockout as an example.  Iman Shumpert was a mostly unknown player coming out of Georgia Tech.  However, when a video was posted on YouTube of Iman performing highlight reel dunks, his popularity took off in New York.  We will ignore the fact that Iman had a relatively horrible season this year because it is beside the point.  The common basketball fan ignores streetball because it "isn't real basketball" and "there is no defense."  I ask these people to try and understand this comparison.  Hip-Hop is directly related to the growth of basketball as a sport; as both have been almost interwoven with trends.  In rap music, one of the most popular forms of expression is to freestyle rap, no pre-written rhymes, no game-plan.  Streetball is the freestyle rap of basketball.  It requires you to be completely unique to everyone else to succeed.  Sure, players are embarrassed and beaten in every game; but when one player does something that has never been seen before, even the opposing team gives him respect.  It's truly not about winning and losing, it is strictly expression and creativity personified in a sport unlike anything else.  In the end, you don't
have to like streetball, but as a basketball fan it has to be respected for the way it advanced the game, and revolutionized the way we dribble and pass the basketball.